Brazil 2014 FIFA WORLD CUP: FIFA approves kick-off times

The FIFA Executive Committee convened on Thursday 27 September, at the Home of FIFA in Zurich, and approved the kick-off times for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil.

The Opening Match will take place on 12 June in Sao Paulo, with a kick-off time of 17.00.

Group-stage games will be played at 13.00, 16.00, 17.00, 18:00, 19.00 and 21:00 local time, with knockout stage matches at 13.00 and 17.00 local time. The semi-finals will be played at 17.00 local time and the Final, on 13 July 2014 at the iconic Maracana stadium, at 16.00 local time.

All kick-offs are local time, with Cuiaba and Manaus being CET-6, all other venues CET -5. After USA 1994, it’s the first time that FIFA World Cup matches will be played in different time zones, with Manaus and Cuiaba one hour behind Brasilia Time.

Finally, it has been decided that the release date of players will be the 19 May 2014, with a mandatory rest period from 19-25 May 2014, to ensure that all players (with the exception of those playing the UEFA Champions League Final) will have one week of rest before joining their national teams.

The Final Draw for Brazil 2014 is confirmed to be Friday 6 December 2013 at the Costa do Sauipe in Bahia.